Rebuttal article to Anti Heartworm Prevention

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I no longer give my HW preventive. I rely on the test alone. And if you research it heartworm is not a common problem in most states.my own vet has treated 5 cases in 15 years.

I would like to see the data you are referencing.

Could you please posts the links.

[Yorkiemom1]

In my opinion, I can not imagine allowing a dog to go without heartworm medication. Heartworms are preventable, so to neglect giving prevention is nothing short of conscious neglect. I used to bring strays I found wandering the streets, home, and over the years, I have had to put 4 dogs down because they were obviously dumped because they were infested with heartworms and the owners did not want to pay to have them treated. The last two almost killed me.....one was the most beautiful, loyal. devoted, well trained german shepherd you could possibly imagine.....he lived with me for almost a year before he became so symptomatic he had to be put down. He could not have been treated because he was so infested with heartworms, to treat him would have killed him....his system would not have been able to process all the mass of dead heartworms that would have been released into his system....so this wonderful gentleman had to be put down when his quality of life becamse unbearable. I cried and still cry over loosing this wonderful dog, Smitty...... This could have been soooooooo easily prevented, and to allow this dog to end his life the way it was ended, is abusive. If you live in the Great State of Texas, and you are NOT treating your pup with heartworm preventative, you are sentencing your pet to an UNNECESSARY, agonizing death, and it will only take one, possibly two seasons to happen.....not a question of "if" it will happen, but "how long" it will take. Heartworm infestation is as common in Texas as mild winters! If you are thinking this is an area where you can save money and not provide this necessary protection for your pet, do your pet a favor and do not own a pet! Save money on bedding, toys, clothes, even food, but do NOT neglect this aspect of responsibile ownership for your best friend.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I would like to see the data you are referencing.

Could you please posts the links.

Not that I'm supportive of NOT giving heartworm meds, but if you do look at the map Taylor posted: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/down...e-Map-2010.pdf

There are quite a few 'white' states with <1 cases in the entire state. I have to admit, I'd question the preventatives at that point if I lived in one of those states. At least year round anyway. I'd probably opt to just get the blood test every 4-6 months. But living in Maryland, I wouldn't ever risk it, so it's not something I will have to think about anyway. And I wouldn't really say 'most' states don't have heartworm. Idaho looks like the only one with no cases reported.

[Ellie May]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

GREAT points .

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

This sums it up for me. Excellent points.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

Great post. I'm sure the people who omit the meds also omit the testing. They likely would omit the treatment too. The dogs end up dying and they blame it on some act of fate or nature.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Great post. I'm sure the people who omit the meds also omit the testing. They likely would omit the treatment too. The dogs end up dying and they blame it on some act of fate or nature.

I believe that is exactly what happens. So many pups die and people don't know why. Almost every time I go to the EC I hear at least one person checking in who responds to the question about who their regular vet is, with "we don't have one" .

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod..._08_04_293.pdf

The white indicates less than one case per clinic (on avg), not per state.

If I thought my dogs were at high enough risk to test, then they are at high enough risk to take preventative. Test so you can then inject them with arsenic?

Some if the western states have really remote area, too. No vet hospitals = less reporting.

Good points.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Actually, no, that will not work!


From the following link:

American Heartworm Society | FAQs


QUESTION: How do monthly heartworm preventives work?

ANSWER Whether the prevention you choose is given orally, topically, or by injection, all approved heartworm medications work by eliminating the immature (larval) stages of this parasite. This includes the infective heartworm larvae deposited by the mosquito as well as the molted fourth larval stage which develops inside the animal. Unfortunately, within 2 months, immature heartworm larvae can molt into an adult (fifth) stage, which cannot be effectively eliminated by preventives. Because heartworms must be eliminated before they reach this adult stage, it is extremely important that heartworm preventives be administered strictly on schedule (monthly for oral and topical products and every 6 months for the injectable). Administering prevention late can allow immature larvae to molt into the adult stage, which is poorly prevented.

From here: American Heartworm Society | FAQs
Do you need a prescription for heartworm preventive medication? If so, why?


ANSWER Yes, heartworm preventives must be purchased from your veterinarian or with a prescription through a pet pharmacy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling on heartworm preventives indicates that the medication is to be used by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. This means a veterinarian must have a doctor-client-patient relationship in order to write a prescription. Typically, prior to prescribing a heartworm preventive, the veterinarian will perform a heartworm test to make sure your pet doesn't already have adult heartworms. It is not necessary to test very young puppies or kittens prior to starting preventives since it takes approximately 6 months for heartworms to develop to adulthood. If heartworm testing is negative, prevention medication is prescribed. Giving preventives to dogs infected with heartworms can lead to rare but possibly severe reactions that could be harmful or even fatal to the dog. In cats, infection with even young immature heartworms (larvae) may require supportive care and treatment along with prevention.


So which is it? I am so confused. So much directly conflicting info.... also since the thread I started years ago on heartworm, all the maps have changed and all the life cycle charts are all different!

[kjc]

From: American Heartworm Society | FAQs


How long does it take before heartworm infection can be detected by blood tests?


ANSWER In the dog it takes 5 to 7 months from the time a dog is bitten by infected mosquitoes until a blood test can accurately detect the presence of adult worms (positive antigen test).
In the cat it takes a little longer, about 5.5 to 8 months to test antigen positive; however, the antibody test can detect the presence of young, immature heartworms (larvae) in as little as 2 to 3 months following infection.


Both the Antigen test and the antibody test only test for adult female heartworms in dogs.


Is a puppy born with immunity to heartworm disease?


ANSWER No, even nursing puppies are at risk for heartworm infection. Puppies of any age exposed to mosquitoes carrying infective larvae can become infected. Thus, it is important to begin prevention by 6 weeks of age whenever possible.

Six Weeks??? I thought they just said 6 months! Which is it? I can see where this is over medicating (like with antibiotics). Is this all really necessary?


My dog has heartworms. My vet started her on monthly prevention before he started treatment. Is this OK?


ANSWER Yes, it is recommended in the American Heartworm Society's Guidelines to do so. This should be done under the direct supervision of a veterinarian because dogs with microfilaria (baby worms in the blood that the mosquito picks up when feeding) could possibly have a reaction to the preventive. Veterinarians check the blood for microfilaria and pre-medicate dogs with preventives before treatment. Although not labeled to be used in this manner, beginning a heartworm preventive prior to performing a heartworm treatment is recommended. However, it is important that your veterinarian assesses the severity of the disease and chooses the proper preventive accordingly. By starting the prevention program you are ensuring that your dog will not get a new heartworm infection while being treated for the existing heartworm disease. Furthermore, you are helping to keep your dog from being a source of heartworm larvae (microfilaria) for mosquitoes to pick up and eventually infect other dogs. This approach makes the treatment of the existing infection more effective.

In the red above: Is this another 'Test' or looking under the microscope? I guess it would be billed as a test. If this is the test Bchgirl was referencing... then her method would work.

In the blue above: I don't believe this is true. By my understanding, a monthly dose of preventatives wipes out the microfilaria in the dog at the time the dose is given, and does not remain in the dog for the entire month. So after that dose is gone from the dog's system, a mosquito could bite and re-infect the dog, which will make your dog a source of HW larvae anyway, until the next dose is given.

I also have a question: Is there a difference between the babies produced from the adult worms in a dog, and the larvae that is deposited on a dog through a mosquito bite?

I ask this bc I just read that in order for babies to infect another dog and grow to adulthood, they have to pass through a mosquito. Does that mean that the babies produced by worms in the dog do not grow into adults? I don't think they do... if they did it would kill all the dogs with reproducing adults. Just food for thought...

[megansmomma]

Just bought my doses today.

[kjc]

And just to clarify where I stand: I am not trying to argue 'for or against' preventative treatment, I just want to know the truth. I want to see a current HW incidence map and a current, real HW life cycle chart. In the meantime, I am giving my dogs HW preventatives, per my vet. I will be discussing this with them.

Who doesn't want the least toxic method to prevent disease? I certainly don't want the same situation that is now occurring with over-prescription of antibiotics to happen with Heartworm preventatives.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

How would that work? Your not preventing it by doing it that way. It's very unsafe.

Depending on the test she's having done, her method would work. If her vet is looking for HW babies in the blood, then if found, a monthly 'preventative' would kill them all, and this is assuming the initial antigen/antibody tests have been done and are negative.

The only thing HW preventatives prevent is ADULT heartworms, by killing off any larval stages when given monthly. They do not 'prevent' a mosquito from biting and infecting your dog.

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Actually, no, that will not work!


From the following link:

American Heartworm Society | FAQs


QUESTION: How do monthly heartworm preventives work?

ANSWER Whether the prevention you choose is given orally, topically, or by injection, all approved heartworm medications work by eliminating the immature (larval) stages of this parasite. This includes the infective heartworm larvae deposited by the mosquito as well as the molted fourth larval stage which develops inside the animal. Unfortunately, within 2 months, immature heartworm larvae can molt into an adult (fifth) stage, which cannot be effectively eliminated by preventives. Because heartworms must be eliminated before they reach this adult stage, it is extremely important that heartworm preventives be administered strictly on schedule (monthly for oral and topical products and every 6 months for the injectable). Administering prevention late can allow immature larvae to molt into the adult stage, which is poorly prevented.

I believe they mean '2 months from the 4th larval stage' to get to the 5th larval stage. I haven't read the fine print lately, but Heartgard claimed to be effective against 5th stage larvae... I believe they are the only manufacturer to claim that.